Class D driver training course
24 hours of classroom or online driver education plus 8 hours behind the wheel
Overseen by Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Traffic Safety Office, Driver Training Program
- Who can take it
Since September 30, 2025, Ohioans aged 18, 19 and 20 must complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice and take an Ohio-approved Class D driver training course to receive a driver license.
What the source says
“Beginning on September 30, 2025, Ohioans age 18, 19, and 20 will be required to complete 50 hours of driving practice supervised by a licensed adult and take an Ohio-approved “Class D” driver training course to receive a driver license.”
Under 21 Driver Training | Ohio Traffic Safety Office, Ohio Department of Public Safety, read October 7, 2026
Ohio law requires each person under 21 who applies for a driver's license to present evidence of having completed an approved driver training course.
What the source says
“each person under twenty-one years of age applying for a driver's license issued in this state and each person twenty-one years of age or older applying for an initial limited term license in this state shall present satisfactory evidence of having successfully completed one of the following:”
Ohio Revised Code Section 4507.21 | Application for and issuance of license, read October 7, 2026
- Age
A driving school may not accept a student for driver education before the age of fifteen years and five months without the director's approval.
What the source says
“(1) No student will be accepted for driver education before attaining the age of fifteen years and five months without approval from the director;”
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4501-7 | Commercial Driver Training Schools, read October 7, 2026
- Course length
The first part of the Class D course is 24 hours of classroom instruction on motor vehicle operation, traffic laws and signs, which may be completed in person or online.
What the source says
“24 hours of classroom instruction on motor vehicle operation, traffic laws, and signs, completed in-person, or online; and”
Under 21 Driver Training | Ohio Traffic Safety Office, Ohio Department of Public Safety, read October 7, 2026
The second part of the Class D course is 8 hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction with a licensed driving instructor.
What the source says
“8 hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction with a licensed driving instructor.”
Under 21 Driver Training | Ohio Traffic Safety Office, Ohio Department of Public Safety, read October 7, 2026
- Taking it online
A student who takes the classroom training online can take the behind-the-wheel training at a different school.
What the source says
“If you take your classroom training online, you can take your behind the wheel training at a different school.”
Under 21 Driver Training | Ohio Traffic Safety Office, Ohio Department of Public Safety, read October 7, 2026
Ohio's rules say driver education for beginning drivers may be delivered in a classroom, by virtual instruction or through an online program.
What the source says
“Driver education courses for beginning drivers may be delivered in a classroom, via virtual instruction, or an online program to satisfy the requirements as provided for in division (C) of section 4508.02 of the Revised Code.”
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4501-7 | Commercial Driver Training Schools, read October 7, 2026
- Certificate
An online school must issue a Certificate of Completion of an Online Driver Education Program within five business days after a student completes every module and passes the final examination.
What the source says
“(1) Online enterprises shall issue a "Certificate of Completion of an Online Driver Education Program" for a student who has successfully completed the online driver education program within five business days of the date of completion.”
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4501-7 | Commercial Driver Training Schools, read October 7, 2026
- Who approves it
Ohio issues an online school license for a course of study given over the internet that is the content equivalent of the classroom instruction offered by a Class D school.
What the source says
“(2) Online license school, which offers a course of study via the internet, that is the content equivalent of the classroom instruction offered by a class "D" school.”
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4501-7 | Commercial Driver Training Schools, read October 7, 2026
- Good to know
Students under 18 may not be given more than four hours of online driver education in a calendar day; students aged 18 and over may receive up to eight hours in one day.
What the source says
“(5) No student, under the age of eighteen years, shall be given more than four hours of training in an online driver education program within a calendar day. Students, aged eighteen years and older, may receive no more than eight hours of education in one day.”
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4501-7 | Commercial Driver Training Schools, read October 7, 2026
A student must answer at least 75 percent of the final examination questions correctly to complete the driver education course.
What the source says
“(b) The student shall answer seventy-five per cent or more of the questions comprising the final examination correctly in order to constitute a successful completion of the driver education course.”
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4501-7 | Commercial Driver Training Schools, read October 7, 2026